22388: Severe: Toronto Star-Raid on Danny T. (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Constantin Severe <csevere@hotmail.com>

Canadian troops seize weapons in Haiti
Small arsenal taken from home of former Haitian senator

Toronto Star 6/15

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP-CP) — Canadian troops raided the home of a former
Haitian senator, seizing seven guns, boxes of ammunition and tear gas
grenades, military officials said today.

The soldiers conducted a "cordon and search" at the house of former senator
Dany Toussaint on Tuesday after receiving a tip from a local, said Capt.
David Devenney, a Canadian military spokesman. They confiscated an M16
rifle, an Uzi submachine-gun, a semiautomatic .22-calibre rifle, four
.38-calibre pistols and two dozen boxes of ammunition, Devenney said.

The Canadian soldiers are part of the U.S.-led multinational force sent to
stabilize Haiti following the Feb. 29 ouster of President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide amid a popular rebellion.

Toussaint was elected in 2000 as a member of Aristide's Lavalas Family party
but later broke ranks to become an independent, saying he didn't agree with
how Aristide was running the country.

In 2002 Toussaint was summoned as a suspect in the 2000 killing of prominent
radio journalist Jean Dominique, but he refused to answer the summons and
the Senate refused to lift his parliamentary immunity. No one has been
convicted in the killing.

Toussaint is owner of the Dany King Shooting Sports Club, a private shooting
gallery where he provides ammunition for guests.

But of all the items confiscated, only the pistols could be legal if
licensed, although the troops found no evidence that they were, Devenney
said. The other items were illegal, he said, adding that a receipt was
issued to Toussaint and the weapons would be turned over to local police.

Toussaint was out when the raid began and arrived while troops were
searching the house, Devenney said.

It was unclear if the former senator would be charged. Police couldn't
immediately be reached for comment.

Toussaint, a former police official, told the Haitian radio station Vision
2000 that he believes he did nothing illegal. Referring to two handguns and
the Uzi, he said: "I have letters of authorization from the chief of police
and the chief of security, so they are legal." He called the Uzi a hunting
gun.

But Devenney said Toussaint couldn't prove he had permits.

In March, after Aristide's ouster, Toussaint said he was trying to bring
peace by bringing together those from rival political camps and by urging
gang leaders to put down their arms.

Asked about his relationship with rebel leader Guy Philippe at the time,
Toussaint had said, "Now we are together." He also denied playing any role
in violence

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